THE NSW Department of Education is to conduct an independent review of scripture and ethics in state schools.
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It will survey the nature and extent of scripture and ethics in schools, how parents are advised of their choice of scripture or ethics, their right to opt out, how complaints are handled, and the need for annual confirmation by parents of their right to choose scripture, or opt out.
It will also include a review of activities and level of supervision of children who do not attend scripture or ethics.
The terms of reference are consistent with a recommendation of the 2011 parliamentary report that led to ethics classes in NSW state primary schools.
A department spokesman said tender proposals were under review by an evaluation team chaired by the department's director of policy, planning and reporting.
"As soon as a successful applicant has been confirmed, contracts will be completed and the review will proceed," the spokesman said.
The review is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
Another of the parliamentary report's recommendations, requiring the department to collect and publish data annually on the number of students attending scripture and ethics, and not attending either classes, has not been implemented.